Electric toy top device with finger supported charging system

ABSTRACT

A system comprising a rotating device, a finger supported charging assembly for powering the rotating device, and a hand pad assembly for holding the rotating device as it spins. The rotating device has a housing with a base upon which the housing spins. An electric motor is contained within the housing that causes the housing to spin when the motor is activated. The finger supported charging assembly includes two contacts that are coupled to opposite terminals of a battery pack. The contacts are worn on opposing fingers and come into contact with the rotating device when the base of the rotation device is supported with the opposing fingers. When contacting the rotating device, the contacts on the opposing fingers provide electricity to the rotating device. The hand pad assembly attaches to a user&#39;s hand providing rigid surfaces on the hand that support the rotating device as it spins.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of patent application Ser.No. 10/874,404 entitled, Electric Toy Top Device With Support And ItsAssociated Method Of Operation, filed Jun. 22, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No.6,913,506.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Generally, the present invention relates to toy tops, gyroscopes andother rotating novelty devices. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to rotating novelty devices that contain internal electricmotors that are periodically powered by a separate electric source thatis remote to the rotating novelty device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Tops, gyroscopes and other freely rotating devices share certain commonfunctional features. Tops, gyroscopes and other rotating devices have acentral axis around which they spin. The center of gravity associatedwith the rotating device passes through that central axis and the massof the rotating device is evenly distributed around the central axis. Asthe top, gyroscope or similar device is put into motion, the devicespins about its central axis. Since the mass of the rotating device isevenly distributed around the central axis, the device spins in auniform manner, thereby enabling the device to be balanced at a point inline with the central axis. The device will spin in a stable manneruntil the rotational speed of the device falls below a certain thresholdlevel. As the speed of the device decreases, its angular momentumdecreases. Eventually, the presence of angular momentum is insufficientto overcome the forces of gravity and the rotating device tips over.

Tops, gyroscopes and other rotating novelty devices have been inexistence for generations. During that period of time, there have beenmany variations in design of the rotating novelty devices. In theirsimplest form, rotating novelty devices, such as tops and gyroscopes,are either directly manually spun or manually spun using a pull cordthat is wound around the rotating novelty device. Such manual means toprovide rotational energy are inexpensive, however the rotational energyprovided is relatively small. Consequently, the top or gyroscope wouldonly rotate for a short period of time before they tip over.

The longer a top, gyroscope or other freely rotating device spins, themore play value it generally has. Consequently, in the prior art,attempts have been made to create tops, gyroscopes and other freelyrotating devices that spin for extended periods of time. One popularmethod of creating a device that spins for a prolonged period of time isto place a motor within the structure of the device. The motor spins aweight, thereby producing the angular momentum needed to maintain aspinning motion for as long as the motor is powered.

In the prior art, such devices are typically created by placing anelectric motor in the center of the top or other freely rotating device.Batteries are then symmetrically placed around the electric motor so asto be balanced around the center of rotation. The batteries typicallyserve as the majority of the weight that is spun. As a result, thebatteries both provide power to the electric motor and add significantlyto the angular momentum of the device. Such prior art devices areexemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,285, to Murakami, entitled GyroscopicTop Device.

A problem associated with prior art tops and gyroscopes that containinternal motors and batteries is that great care must be taken in themanufacturing tolerances in order to maintain the proper balance. Thisraises the cost associated with manufacturing such devices. Furthermore,since the spinning object contains both an electric motor and batteries,the device is rather heavy. Such devices, therefore, have a tendency tobecome damaged if the commonplace happens and the device falls to thefloor after spinning off a table edge or falls out of a child's hand.

A need therefore exists for an improved type of drive system for aspinning top, gyroscope or other freely rotating device that providesrotational energy to the device, yet does not require that batteries becontained within the rotating device. This need is met by the presentinvention as described and claimed below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system comprising a rotating device and afinger supported charging assembly for powering the rotating device. Therotating device has a housing with a base upon which the housing spins.An electric motor is contained within the housing that causes thehousing to spin when the motor is activated. The finger supportedcharging assembly includes two contacts that are coupled to oppositeterminals of a battery pack. The contacts are worn on opposing fingersand come into contact with the rotating device when the rotation deviceis supported with the opposing fingers. When contacting the rotatingdevice, the contacts on the opposing fingers provide electricity to therotating device that powers the motor within the rotating device.Furthermore, a magnet can be present on one or both of the fingercontacts that helps hold the rotating device in place between the fingercontacts. The magnets in the finger contacts can also be used to liftthe rotating device as it spins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is madeto the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof,considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:restaurant

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the rotating device being held within thecharger assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a selective cross-sectional view of the toy top;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention system where a magnet isbeing used to lift the rotating device as it spins; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the hand pad assembly component of the presentinvention system as it supports the rotating assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the rotating device of the present invention system can beconfigured in many shapes and styles, such as a gyroscope or freelyrotating toy, the rotating device of the present invention system isparticularly well suited as a top. Accordingly, the illustrated exampleof the rotating device of the present invention system will beconfigured as a top in order to set forth the best mode contemplated forthe invention. However, the choice of embodying the rotating device as atop should not be considered a limitation of the possible embodiments ofthe rotating device.

Referring to FIG. 1, a toy top system 10 is shown. The toy top system 10is comprised of a top 12, a charging assembly 14 for the top 12, and ahand pad assembly 13 for supporting the top 10 as it spins.

The top 12 has a balance point 16 upon which it balances when it spins.The top 12 also has an apex point 15 at its top that is in the same axisof rotation as the balance point 16. As will later be explained, the top12 contains an internal motor that causes the top 12 to spin. However,that internal motor must receive electricity from a source external ofthe top 12.

Referring to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, it will be understoodthat the charging assembly 14 is worn on the hand. The charging assembly14 consists of a battery pack 15 and two finger supported chargingcontacts 18, 20 that are coupled to opposite terminals of the batterypack 15. In the shown embodiment, the two finger supported chargingcontacts 18, 20 are shown being attached to the thumb and the indexfinger, respectively. The charging contact 18 worn on the thumb has acontact surface 22 that is either flat or slightly bowl-shaped. Thecontact surface 22 is sized to receive the balance point 16 of the toytop 12. The opposite charging contact 18 is supported by the indexfinger. As such, by closing the thumb and index finger together, theapex 15 of the top 12 and the balancing point 16 of the top 12 can bepinched between the charging contact 20 on the index finger and thecharging contact 18 on the thumb.

Both the charging contacts 18, 20 are connected to the battery pack 15.The battery pack 15 is worn either on the wrist or on the back of thehand. A flexible wire cable or ribbon cable connects the battery pack 15to both finger supported charging contacts 18, 20.

The toy top 12 contains an internal electric motor. The internalelectric motor causes the top 12 to spin. The internal electric motor ispowered only when the apex 15 of the top 12 and the balance point 16 ofthe top 12 is in contact with the two finger supported charging contacts18, 20. As a result, when the apex 15 of the top 12 and the balancepoint 16 of the top 12 touch the finger supported charging contacts 18,20, the internal electric motor is powered by the battery pack 15 andthe rotational velocity of the top 12 increases. Once up to its maximumspeed, the top 12 can again be released from the fingers and allowed tospin freely.

The movement of the top 12 is not limited to the confines of the fingersupported charging contacts 18, 20. Rather, the top 12 can be flippedout of the support platform 22 onto any smooth surface. As the top 12eventually slows, the finger supported charging contacts 18, 20 can beused to scoop up the spinning top 12. The top 12 can then be contactedby the thumb charging contact 18, where it will again increase to itsmaximum rotational speed.

The finger supported charging contacts 18, 20 preferably are magnetic orcontain magnets. The magnets create magnetic fields that effect the top12 as it spins. The magnetic fields cause the top 12 to be slightlybiased against the charging contacts 18, as the top 12 spins. Thiscauses the top 12 to create consistent electrical interconnection withthe charging contacts 18, 20. The result is that a higher qualityelectrical connection is made with the top 12 than would occur if themagnet 24 were not present.

The finger supported charging contacts 18, 20 are an assembly of variouscomponents. The index finger charging contact 20 contains a ringstructure 54 that can be worn around the index finger. The thumbcharging contact 18 is connected to a separate ring structure 56. Bothfinger supported charging contacts are coupled to the opposite terminalsof the battery pack 15.

It will therefore be understood, that as the top 12 is held between thefinger charging contacts 18, 20, the electric motor 32 is powered andthe top 12 will spin under the power of the electric motor 32.

Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the top 12 is comprised of ahousing 30 that defines a central chamber 31. Within the central chamber31 is a free floating electric motor 32. The output shaft 34 of theelectric motor 32 is rigidly connected to the housing 30. Accordingly,the electric motor 32 can remain stationary as its output shaft 34rotates the top's housing 30 around the motor 32.

The housing 30 has an outer ring section 36. Within the outer ringsection 36 is a weighted flywheel 38. The flywheel 38 adds to the massof the top 12 and provides the angular momentum needed to keep the top12 stable as the top 12 spins.

The bottom of the top's housing 30 forms the balance point 16 of the top12. At the tip of the balance point 16 is conductive and leads to theelectric motor 32. At the opposite side of the top 12 is the apex 15.The apex 15 is also conductive and leads to the electric motor 32. Thus,the two leads of the electric motor 32 terminate at the top and bottomof the toy top 12.

Near the apex 15 of the top 12 is positioned either a magnet or a massof ferro-magnetic material 52. Accordingly, the area near the apex 15 ofthe top's housing 30 will attract to an external magnet.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be understood, that due to the magneticattraction embodied by the finger supported charging contacts 18, 20(FIG. 2), if the apex 15 is touched by either charging contact 18, 20(FIG. 2), the apex 15 of the toy top 12 will magnetically attach to thatcharging contact 18, 20. The magnetic attraction between the chargingcontacts and the apex 15 of the toy top 12 is preferably large enough tosupport the weight of the toy top 12 as it is spinning. As such, the toytop 12 can be magnetically supported by either its bottom balance point16 or from its top apex 15 as it spins.

Referring to FIG. 5, the hand pad assembly 13 that was initially shownin FIG. 1 is more completely described. The hand pad assembly 13contains two pads 60, 62. Each of the pads 60, 62 has a rigid supportsurface 64 that is preferably slightly concave. The two pads 60, 62 areinterconnected by at least one strap 66. The strap 66 wraps around aperson's hand so that one pad 60 is positioned against the palm of thehand and the other pad 62 is positioned against the back of the hand.

The top 12, once made to spin, can be placed onto one of the two pads60, 62, where it is free to spin. It is preferred that the hand padassembly 13 be worn on one hand and the charging assembly 14 (FIG. 1) onthe opposite hand. In this manner, one hand can be used to charge thetop 12 so it spins, while the other hand is used to support the top 12as it spins.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the present inventionsystem that is described and illustrated herein is merely exemplary anda person skilled in the art can make many variations to the embodimentshown without departing from the scope of the present invention. Forinstance, the shape of the top is mostly a matter of design choice.Furthermore, the hand pad assembly can be integrally formed as part ofthe battery pack, wherein a single set of straps hold both the batterypack and the pads onto a person's hands. All such variations,modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appendedclaims.

1. A system, comprising: a rotating assembly having an apex point and abottom point disposed upon a common axis of rotation, wherein saidrotating assembly rotates upon said bottom point around said axis ofrotation; an electric motor disposed within said assembly, wherein saidelectric motor rotates said rotating assembly around said axis ofrotation when said electric motor is activated; and a charging assemblysupported by a user's hand, said charging assembly containing a firstcontact, a second contact and a battery source coupled to said firstcontact and said second contact, wherein said battery source powers saidelectric motor in said rotating assembly when said rotating assembly isheld in the user's hand and is brought into contact with said firstcontact and said second contact.
 2. The system according to claim 1,wherein said electric motor has electrical terminals that terminate atsaid bottom point and said apex point of said rotating assembly.
 3. Thesystem according to claim 1, wherein said first contact is coupled to afirst ring that enables said first contact to be worn about a firstfinger.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said second contactis coupled to a second ring that enables said second contact to be wornabout a second finger.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein saidfirst contact includes a surface on which said rotating assembly canspin.
 6. The system according to claim 5, further including a magnetdisposed proximate said first contact.
 7. The system according to claim6, wherein said magnet exerts a magnetic attraction with said rotatingassembly sufficient to lift said rotating assembly.
 8. The systemaccording to claim 1, further include a hand pad assembly having atleast one rigid surface upon which said rotating assembly can spin. 9.The system according to claim 8, wherein said hand pad assemblyincludes: a first rigid support surface upon which a top can freelyrotate; and at least one strap for selectively attaching said firstrigid support surface to the back of a person's hand, therein holdingsaid first rigid support surface flush against the back of the person'shand.
 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said furtherincluding a second rigid support surface, wherein said second rigidsupport surface is coupled to said at least one strap and is heldagainst a palm of the person's hand by said at least one strap.
 11. Thesystem according to claim 9, wherein said first rigid support surface isconcave.
 12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said second rigidsupport surface is concave.